Ancient skulls
bearing a single eyeball socket found in limestone caves have baffled
tribal folk in the hinterlands of Bohol, Bukidnon and Agusan, reports
said.

The existence of
the skulls, which resemble those of the cyclops, a race of giants in Greek
mythology with a single eye in the middle of the forehead, has triggered
speculations that one-eyed ancient settlers once roamed the country’s
southern islands.

The strange skulls
were reportedly found in limestone caves in the hinterlands of Bohol, at
Mt. Palaupau in Sumilao, Bukidnon, and in some parts of Agusan.

Tribal folklore
has it that giants once roamed the plains of Central and Northern
Mindanao, the most popular of whom, according to Bukidnon legend, was
"Agyo" who fought against the first Spanish conquistadores.

Bukidnon’s
tribal folk are reportedly keeping skeletal remains which they believe to
be Agyo’s as an object of worship in a sacred cave.

Reports about the
strange skulls had prompted archeologists of the National Museum to launch
an excavation in Bohol and they, indeed, found one such skull.

Archeologist Rey
Santiago said intensive study on the skull showed it belonged to an
ancient settler.

He, however,
theorized that limestone in caves where the "cyclops skulls"
were discovered could have triggered a chemical reaction in the skeletal
part, creating a new eyeball socket.

"Human bones
and limestone have similar (composition)," he said.

Despite
Santiago’s explanation though, tribal folklore maintain there were two
races of giants in ancient times — the kapre who were associated with
evil, and the one-eyed giants whom early settlers regarded as their
heroes.